Watch CBS News

Gov. Brown Pardons Mostly Target Drug Offenders

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown has issued 127 Christmas Eve pardons, the vast majority of them to people convicted of drug offenses.

Typical of the handful of crimes that were not directly drug-related is that committed in 1995 by a Humboldt County woman. She was convicted of burglary after she broke into a home to steal food so she could feed her children.

A statement from the governor's office on Tuesday says all those granted pardons had completed their sentences. They also have been released from custody for more than a decade without committing additional crimes.

The Democratic governor has granted 341 pardons since taking office in 2011.

A gubernatorial pardon does not erase a conviction but rather restores certain rights, such as allowing the person to serve on a jury.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More News:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.